Bird netting is not going to stop a hawk, not with those sharp claws and beaks. You'd have to cover the entire enclosure with chicken wire, which other predators such as raccoons and owls can tear through, as predators from the sky don't just dive straight down, coopers hawks, for example, are known to pursue prey on foot through underbrush. Here's how I did my chicken run: 2' high 1/2" hardware cloth buried 18" deep around the entire living quarters of the birds, including the run and the coop. This is a good deterrent to digging animals. For the sides, I used full height chicken wire and 2"x4" welded wire, and went 3' up with the same 1/2" hardware cloth. I used steel 1/2" conduit for the framework, and 4"x4" green treated posts buried 2' in the ground. For the top, I covered the entire run with chicken wire and the 2"x4" welded wire. I also used fence staples to staple the same 1/2" hardware cloth over the windows, on the outside, as I installed sliders so I can give them adequate ventilation depending on the seasons without having to worry that "something" will get in through an open window. As for industrial looking, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the safety of the birds is first priority, I've had neighbors say "well, if they get killed you can just buy more", something I think is ignorant, for obvious reasons. For decoration, I planted lilacs on the sunny side of the run, the girls appreciate the shade on hot days, and some climbing roses in other areas. Plus it smells nice too. I have some hens that are 6 years old and still lay eggs every day. The other option is to "shepherd" the birds when they are out, chasing away hawks, airhorns work well, as does shouting and clapping. I only do this when they free range outside of the pen, as I work in the garden, but you must be alert. Hope this helps you with some ideas!

You know, looking again at your picture, it's a beautiful scene by the way, I don't know how many birds you have, but maybe you could do a smaller area similar to mine, and let them out into the rest when you are outside?

I have 11 chickens and 11 ducks. Yes, it could be smaller, if I had to. I've had chickens for about six years or so. Nothing has made it through the fence yet (5 feet tall, buried a foot underground), but the hawks have been just awful this year, for the first time. Five killed since October, and a couple near misses. I might have to start with a smaller area, but I do want to give them as much space as I can. I like your idea of the lilacs in there. It is a bit barren. Nice to see the sweep of the space, but maybe the right plantings could help, and also disguise the framework for the chicken wire. But I need a quicker fix for now, so that I can let them outside again.

We ran wire close together and crisscrossing across the top of our fence all the way down. Gray is almost invisible and it kept out the hawks. Takes a lot of fence wire but it's probably the cheapest route. We started with bright neon orange snow fencing but switched to the wire when heavy snows collapsed it. It looked awful anyway.

This year and last year we had two hawks going after the birds. They got one full grown duck, and the survivors decided to stick close to the bamboo and the house after that! I also started letting my guineas out again (I had them cooped up because they wander all over the road), they went after a guinea and now the guineas are on the alert for hawks and shriek when they come around. I did notice that the crows around here pester the hawks enough that the hawks leave when the crows are around. Not sure if you mind crows, but you could try to attract crows to your yard, which would deter hawks. Just be careful, the crows were snatching our ducklings last year!

Yes, mersiepoo, I hear you! I love having the crows around, they are great at chasing away hawks and owls, and giving warnings when they are near. Unfortunately, they do eat baby birds. Any time I hear a group of crows "mobbing" a hawk or owl, I keep watch, and most usually see the predator fleeing with crows in pursuit! I bet they are very annoyed with the crows busting their cover! Ha Ha!

Hawks are cautious about landing in areas where they can't take off again ... so interfere with the clear air space in the run AND make it obvious to a hawk that there is something obstructing access. You don't want to get one tangled in bird netting.

Criss-crossed wires with dangling pennants, a tall "arbor" with wide-spaced lattice, something to fill the run's airspace.

For the chickens, give them various shelters: small coops, arbors and bushes will let them hide out and not have to dash to the barn.

If you got the room and don't mind invasive bamboo, after my chickens got attacked by the hawks, anytime they spot one they flee to the bamboo. They love it in there, they got shade, bugs and they fertilize the bamboo in exchange for protection. Just know that any phyllostachys species is a 'runner' and can be (will be) invasive unless you create a barrier for it which needs a lip to stick out of the dirt a few inches, or else you gotta root prune and or mow.

We have a few trees and some spaces where the chickens can run under that are covered. Our birds free range so they can also run into the barn if needed. We do have hawks but I've never seen one try to go after the chickens. In 3 years we haven't lost a bird to a predator. We are probably just lucky, but I find the roos do a great job of spotting and alerting danger (or believed danger). I think if there wasn't other easier prey around for a hawk, like mice, we may have to do things differently, but the sheltered areas seem to work well for us at this time.

Yes, I agree places to hide are a great help. About a year ago, my husband was standing near the chicken coop, which has trees/shrubs dotted around it, they were out running around, and a hawk landed on a lower branch just 10 feet away from him and aimed at one of the hens. He immediately shouted "hey!" at it and it was so startled it almost fell, but then flew off. In another incident, my largest Golden Laced Wyandotte hen had a small skirmish with a redtail hawk. I was in a nearby garden, and at first thought 2 hens were fighting over something, but the hawk jumped up to a limb and we made eye contact, and it flew away. The Roo was on his way, but I'm glad the hen was on the large side so she had a chance at holding her own for a few seconds. The turkey vultures like to circle low over them as well, and I've been told that they likely won't eat the chickens, but the way they behave, I think they will! They get very low, and I can see their eyes!

saffron, I too doubt the turkey vultures would eat the chickens. We have loads of them. I see them pretty much daily. They always circle but never dive. My chicken do send out warning calls when they see them though. Perhaps if they were really hungry they might attack but since they are scavengers I think the chance is low. Well at least that's been my experience.